De-warping Appliance for Vinyl Records

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved device and method for de-warping a warped vinyl record so that it may be played and enjoyed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A first improved de-warping appliance for vinyl records, comprising:
 a) a flat, circular base plate of large radius constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 i. metal, and 
 ii. glass, and 
 iii. ceramic, and 
 iv. stone; 
   b) a threaded central shaft projecting perpendicularly up from said circular base plate at the center point of said circular base plate;   c) a first lower circular spacer:
 i. wherein said first lower circular spacer has an outer radius about ¼″ less than the radius of the record to be used with the appliance, said radius comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM long play record, and 
 (2) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM maxi single record, and 
 (3) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 45 RPM maxi single record, and 
 (4) the radius of a 10″ (25 cm) 45 RPM long play record, and 
 (5) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM single, and 
 (6) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM extended play record, 
 
 ii. wherein said first lower circular spacer has a central circular cut-out, said central circular cut-out having as its center point the linear center axis of said threaded central shaft and a radius comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) the radius of the paper label of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM long play record, and 
 (2) the radius of the paper label of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM maxi single record, and 
 (3) the radius of the paper label of a 12″ (30 cm) 45 RPM maxi single record, and 
 (4) the radius of the paper label of a 10″ (25 cm) 45 RPM long play record, and 
 (5) the radius of the paper label of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM single, and 
 (6) the radius of the paper label of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM extended play record, 
 
 iii. wherein said first lower circular spacer is constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) neoprene, and 
 (2) high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and 
 (3) polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and 
 (4) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and 
 (5) metal, and 
 (6) glass, and 
 (7) stone, 
 
   d) a first upper circular spacer:
 i. wherein said first upper circular spacer has an outer radius about ¼″ less than the radius of the record to be used with the appliance, said radius comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM long play record, and 
 (2) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM maxi single record, and 
 (3) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 45 RPM maxi single record, and 
 (4) the radius of a 10″ (25 cm) 45 RPM long play record, and 
 (5) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM single, and 
 (6) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM extended play record, 
 
 ii. wherein said first upper circular spacer has a central circular cut-out, said central circular cut-out having as its center point the linear center axis of said threaded central shaft and a radius comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) the radius of the paper label of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM long play record, and 
 (2) the radius of the paper label of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM maxi single record, and 
 (3) the radius of the paper label of a 12″ (30 cm) 45 RPM maxi single record, and 
 (4) the radius of the paper label of a 10″ (25 cm) 45 RPM long play record, and 
 (5) the radius of the paper label of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM single, and 
 (6) the radius of the paper label of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM extended play record, 
 
 iii. wherein said first upper circular spacer is constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) neoprene, and 
 (2) high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and 
 (3) polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and 
 (4) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and 
 (5) metal, and 
 (6) glass, and 
 (7) stone, 
 
   e) a flat, circular top plate of large radius with a central perforate hole equal in diameter to the diameter of said threaded central shaft thus allowing said circular top plate to be placed over said threaded central shaft and weighing in the range of between about 3 pounds and about 6 pounds and constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 i. metal, and 
 ii. glass, and 
 iii. ceramic, and 
 iv. stone, 
   f) a knob, screwably affixable to said threaded central shaft to secure all the forgoing elements together in a first stack with the record to be de-warped insinuated between said first lower circular spacer and said first upper circular spacer.   
     
     
         2 . A first improved de-warping device, further comprising
 a) an electrically heated pouch, such that said first stack may be placed inside said electrically heated pouch:
 i. wherein said electrically heated pouch is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of:
 (1) fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with carbon fiber heating elements, and 
 (2) carbon nanotube heating cloth, and 
 (3) fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with Teflon Microwire™ heating elements, and 
 (4) fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with conventional heating wires, 
 
 ii. wherein the temperature of said electrically heated pouch may set using a thermostat, 
 iii. wherein said electrically heated pouch is powered by low-voltage DC electrical current. 
   
     
     
         3 . A second improved de-warping appliance for vinyl records, comprising:
 a) a flat, circular base plate of large radius constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 i. metal, and 
 ii. glass, and 
 iii. ceramic, and 
 iv. stone; 
   b) a threaded central shaft projecting perpendicularly up from said circular base plate at the center point of said circular base plate;   c) a second lower circular spacer:
 i. wherein said second lower circular spacer has an outer radius about ¼″ greater than the radius of the record to be used with the appliance, said radius comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM long play record, and 
 (2) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM maxi single record, and 
 (3) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 45 RPM maxi single record, and 
 (4) the radius of a 10″ (25 cm) 45 RPM long play record, and 
 (5) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM single, and 
 (6) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM extended play record, 
 
 ii. wherein said second lower circular spacer has a central perforate hole equal in diameter to the diameter of said threaded central shaft thus allowing said second lower spacer to be placed over said threaded central shaft, 
 iii. wherein said second lower circular spacer is constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) felt, and 
 (2) polyester felt, and 
 (3) compressible rubber, and 
 (4) foam rubber, and 
 (5) plastic foam sheet, 
 
   d) a second upper circular spacer:
 i. wherein said second upper circular spacer has an outer radius about ¼″ greater than the radius of the record to be used with the appliance, said radius comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM long play record, and 
 (2) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 33⅓ RPM maxi single record, and 
 (3) the radius of a 12″ (30 cm) 45 RPM maxi single record, and 
 (4) the radius of a 10″ (25 cm) 45 RPM long play record, and 
 (5) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM single, and 
 (6) the radius of a 7″ (17.5 cm) 45 RPM extended play record, 
 
 ii. wherein said second upper circular spacer has a central perforate hole equal in diameter to the diameter of said threaded central shaft thus allowing said second upper circular spacer to be placed over said threaded central shaft, 
 iii. wherein said second upper circular spacer is constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 (1) felt, and 
 (2) polyester felt, and 
 (3) compressible rubber, and 
 (4) foam rubber, and 
 (5) plastic foam sheet, 
 
   e) a flat, circular top plate of large radius with a central perforate hole equal in diameter to the diameter of said threaded central shaft thus allowing said circular top plate to be placed over said threaded central shaft and weighing in the range of between about 3 pounds and about 6 pounds and constructed from a material comprising a selection from a group consisting of:
 i. metal, and 
 ii. glass, and 
 iii. ceramic, and 
 iv. stone, 
   f) a knob, screwably affixable to said threaded central shaft to secure all the forgoing elements together in a second stack with the record to be de-warped insinuated between said second lower circular spacer and said second upper circular spacer.   
     
     
         4 . A second improved de-warping device, further comprising
 a) an electrically heated pouch, such that said second stack may be placed inside said electrically heated pouch:
 i. wherein said electrically heated pouch is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of:
 (1) fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with carbon fiber heating elements, and 
 (2) carbon nanotube heating cloth, and 
 (3) fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with Teflon Microwire™ heating elements, and 
 (4) fire-resistant cloth or synthetic cloth with conventional heating wires, 
 
 ii. wherein the temperature of said electrically heated pouch may set using a thermostat, 
 iii. wherein said electrically heated pouch is powered by low-voltage DC electrical current. 
   
     
     
         5 . A first method of de-warping a warped record comprising the steps of:
 a) placing said central circular cut-out of said first lower circular spacer over said threaded central shaft extending perpendicularly from said circular base plate such that the center point of said circular cut-out of said first lower circular space coincides with the linear center axis of said threaded central shaft;   b) placing the record to be de-warped onto said first lower circular spacer by passing the central hole of the said record over said threaded central shaft such that the peripheral lead-in portion of said record extends evenly beyond the outer edge of said first lower circular spacer and the paper label affixed to the bottom surface of said record rests in said central circular cut-out of said first lower circular spacer;   c) placing said central circular cut-out of said first upper circular spacer over said threaded central shaft extending perpendicularly from said circular base plate such that the center point of said circular cut-out of said first upper circular space coincides with the linear center axis of said threaded central shaft and such that the peripheral lead-in portion of said record extends beyond the outer edge of said first upper circular spacer and the paper label affixed to the top surface of said record rests in said central circular cut-out of said first upper circular spacer;   d) placing said central perforate hole of said circular top plate over said threaded central shaft;   e) screwably affixing said knob onto said threaded central shaft to secure all the forgoing elements together into said first stack;   f) placing said first stack in said electrically heated pouch for a period of time ranging between about 4 hours to about 20 hours.   
     
     
         6 . A second method of de-warping a warped record comprising the steps of:
 a) placing said central perforate hole of said second lower circular spacer over said threaded central shaft extending perpendicularly from said circular base plate;   b) placing the record to be de-warped onto said second lower circular spacer by passing the central hole of the said record over said threaded central shaft such that the outer edge of said second lower circular spacer extends evenly beyond the peripheral lead-in portion of said record;   c) placing said central perforate hole of said second upper circular spacer over said threaded central shaft extending perpendicularly from said circular base plate such that the outer edge of said second upper circular spacer extends evenly beyond the peripheral lead-in portion of said record;   d) placing said central perforate hole of said circular top plate over said threaded central shaft;   e) screwably affixing said knob onto said threaded central shaft to secure all the forgoing elements together into said second stack;   f) placing said second stack in said electrically heated pouch for a period of time ranging between about 4 hours to about 20 hours.